This Instagram Account Shares Lesser-Known Historical Facts, And Here Are 40 Of The Most Interesting Ones
History isn't just about the past. By learning about those distant people and events, we also understand what shaped the present.
And while nothing will replace sound academic literature, every once in a while, it's healthy to balance it out with other forms of content, reinvigorating our passion for the subject.
That's why we at Bored Panda like covering online projects like 'Weird History' or 'Everyday History Facts.'
This time, we're inviting you to take a look at 'Amazing History', an Instagram account that focuses on the visuals and shares lesser-known historical pictures in an attempt to broaden its followers' horizons. Here are some of the gems it has shared so far.
More info: Instagram
This post may include affiliate links.
50 Years Ago They Tried To Stop Katherine Switzer From Running The Boston Marathon Because She Was A Woman. Last Month, At 70, She Ran It Again Wearing The Same Number
According to author, historian, and storyteller from the UK Dave Tonge, history can offer a lot to a person.
"It really depends on the type of history being taught," Tonge told Bored Panda. "I, like so many people, was fed a never-ending list of dates — of great battles and Kings and Queens. In other words, the history of the so-called 'great and good'. It's the kind of history that drives many away from the subject because it's 'elite' history that they cannot relate to."
1963
On January 19, 1981, Heavyweight Champ Muhammad Ali Became So Upset When He Found Out That A Vietnam Veteran Was About To Commit Suicide Near His Home, That He Dashed To The Scene In Just Four Minutes. Not Only Did Ali Prevent The Man From Killing Himself, He Also Personally Drove Him To The Hospital
Tonge, however, has always been interested "in the history of the common people (as presented in court documents, for example) and also in the history of riots and rebellions, where the poorer folk whose interests were not represented by the Church and State, rose up against the ruling classes."
"That's why I also got into storytelling; in the folk tales that people shared in the alehouse and by their own hearth at home, again we hear poorer voices coming through and learn something of their ideas, dreams, and beliefs that often conflicted with that of the ruling classes," he explained.
1940s Polio Outbreak
Madam CJ Walker in her Ford
American Aircraft Carrier
History is such a vast subject, one person can't possibly know it all. So Tong believes that its enthusiasts should focus "on periods, or rather events that lead to great changes, especially with regard to ideas and beliefs as well as leading to great social change."
"In medieval times, that might be events like the Black Death, which killed nearly half the population of Europe, but in doing so resulted in momentous changes for those who were left," the historian highlighted. "For example, fewer people had greater opportunities to escape the feudal system that had seen poor families tied to one master and the land upon which they were born."
This Is A 392-Year-Old Greenland Shark That Was Recently Discovered In The Arctic Ocean. He's Been Wandering The Ocean Since The Early 1600s!
Someone needs to assign it a fucken body guard cause everytime we find an animal like this... someone kills it... it happens everytime. It's so f****d up. This is an instance where putting a tracker on it would be understandable... or even like a necessity. He can avoid death in every way... but when it comes to human beings he's no match. I hope this dude stays safe. What a magnificent creature.
I completely agree with you. Humans destroy everything!!!
Load More Replies...
All they know is that it is at least 150 years old: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/04/28/fact-check-age-greenland-shark-viral-image-not-known/4854186001/
Professor Richardson said that the existence of such long-lived species could help scientists discover how some animals reach such advanced ages. The mollusc's long life came to an end in 2006 when the British researchers – unaware of the animal's exceptional age – froze the specimen, killing it.
"He's been wandering the ocean since the 1600's" Of course he has!! Refuses to ask for directions, look at a map, won't use the new Google Maps on his phone, and has told the wife he knows EXACTLY where he's going.
They count the teeth to determine age, sadly, they had to go through 4 divers before they got the final count.
Try this: Researchers analyzed 28 female sharks, most of which had died after being caught in fishing nets. They estimated the oldest of the animals tested had lived between 272 and 512 years. The midpoint of that range was 392 years. Nielsen told USA TODAY the image is a screenshot from a video, which can be seen in a November 2020 Instagram post.
There's also a 500 years old clam called Ming. Imagine the stories they could tell.
Radiometric dating of inert (essentially dead) eye tissue.
Load More Replies...
Yeah, but when they die they just sink to the bottom or they get eaten, truthfully how did they know it's age?
Yeah but when they die, they just sing to the bottom or get eaten, truthfully how do they know the age?
They studied specimens that were killed by fishermen so...
Load More Replies...
His soul must have done something terrible in his past life to be reborn into an immortal blind shark cursed to swim the depths of the freezing ocean
They checked their Tinder profiles and then added 10 years to the female sharks and reduced the length of the males by 4 inches to get it right.
I really like these animals. They swim at a very slow pace and some of them get a parasite which burrows into their cornea and renders them blind. I decided once that was what happened to bad people when they die...they become Greenland sharks, and have to spend a few hundred years cold, slow, lonely and blind...
After googling this appears to be false . They are known to live over 200+ years but the age can not be determined.
Polish Girl, Lidka, 21, Member Of The Resistance, During Warsaw Uprising 1944. Survived The War, Died In 1993
Hedgehog
When it comes to the UK in particular, Tonge thinks momentous events like the Reformation and the English Civil war are also important because "not only do they mark changes to our religious and political system, but also they see poorer folk beginning to formulate their own ideas and beliefs separate to the church and state. "
Two Brave Armenian Women Pose With Their Rifles Before Going To Battle Against The Ottomans - 1895
Joe Medicine Crow
He lived an amazing life, and died at 102. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Medicine_Crow
Three-Year-Old Peggy Kennedy, A Polio Patient, Smiles At Therapy Ducks In A Pail Of Water. 1956
Letter From A Trapped Coal Miner Says Goodbye To His Wife, 1902
Fraterville Mine disaster Jacob Vowell and his son Elbert along with about 200 other miners were killed "“Ellen, darling, goodbye for us both. Elbert said the Lord has saved him. We are all praying for air to support us, but it is getting so bad without any air. Ellen I want you to live right and come to heaven. Raise the children the best you can. Oh how I wish to be with you, goodbye. Bury me and Elbert in the same grave by little Eddie. Godbye Ellen, goodbye Lily, goodbye Jemmie, goodbye Horace. We are together. Is 25 minutes after two. There is a few of us alive yet. Jake and Elbert Oh God for one more breath. Ellen remember me as long as you live Goodbye darling.”
When it comes to choosing the right sources to get started, Tonge always recommends older history books aimed at school children.
"I'm talking about textbooks from the 1950s and 60s, because they tended to have a lot more detail than the very basic children's history books of today and often refer to original sources many of which are included," the historian explained.
A Reusable Shopping List From The 1920s
Oxford, U.k
225-Million-Year-Old Petrified Opal Tree Trunk Located In Arizona
Job Hunting 1930's
But Tonge's collections like Tudor Folk Tales or Medieval Folk Tales for Children are also great choices because their characters often relate to real historical figures or archetypes from various time periods and everything is based on legit historical documents.
But if it's more memes that you're currently after, check out our piece on History Memes Explained, a cool social media project that not only collects but also dissects the best memes about our past.
Chief Iron Tail
A Peruvian Elongated Skull With A Metal Plate Surgically Implanted, Estimated To Be From About 2000 Years Ago. The Broken Bone Surrounding The Repair Is Tightly Fused Together Indicating It Was A Successful Surgery
I don't know, why are most people today thinking, that our ancestors 2-3 or more thousand years ago, were "dumber" as the 21st century people. Sure, the technology was not as advanced, like today's is, but they had the knowledge.
Two Guards From Delhi Durbar With James Ricalton, An American 🇺🇸 Photographer Who Visited India In 1903
2019
This Is The Rms Queen Elizabeth Pulling Into New York With Returning Us Servicemen In 1945. Finally Ww2 Is Over
1500 Year Old Tree, Located In South Africa. The Oldest Living Thing On Earth
Tinder During 1901
However, if it's more memes that you're after, check out our piece on History Memes Explained, a cool social media project that not only collects but also dissects the best memes about our past.
Country Store On Dirt Road, North Carolina In 1939
This Skeleton Of A Roman Man, Who Was Crushed By A Flying Stone Slab During The Eruption Of Mount Vesuvius Nearly 2000 Years Ago, Was Discovered In May Of 2018
South Dakota 126 Years Ago. Indian Chiefs Who Had Council With General Miles And Settled The Indian War. 1. Standing Bull, 2. Bear Who Stands And Looks Back, 3. Has The Big White Horse, 4. White Tail, 5. Living Bear, 6. Little Thunder, 7. Bull Dog, 8. High Hawk, 9. Lame, 10. Eagle Pipe
Fossil Trees As Tall As Modern-Day Redwoods Have Been Found In Northern Thailand. This Petrified Trunk Measures 72.2 Meters In Length, Suggesting That The Original Tree Would Have Been Over 100 Meters Tall. Its Approximate Age Is 800,000 Years
Just Rare In 1964, Ringo Starr Snapped A Photo Of Some High School Students Who Had Skipped Class To See The Beatles During Their First Trip To The United States
1943 - Last Photo Of The Legendary Nikola Tesla
Jacob Miller
He looks like he’s wearing a bindi except it cost a lot of pain to get it
Young Oyster Shuckers, Josie, Six Years Old, Bertha, Six Years Old, Sophie, Ten Years Old, Port Royal, South Carolina, 1912. Work Began At 4 Am. Photo By Lewis Hine
Union Blue And Confederate Gray Veterans Reunite At Gettysburg In The Year 1913 — Standing By “The Bloody Angle” Where Pickett’s Charge Took Place 50 Years Earlier And Over 3,000 Soldiers On Both Sides Lost Their Lives — Now They Clasp Hands Over The Stone Wall As Brothers
Civil War reunions, attended by both sides, were very common at the end of the 19th century and early 20th. Former soldiers would meet up with friends they had not seen in decades and formerly reconcile with the other side. The last great reunion was in 1938 on the 75th anniversary of Gettysburg.
A German Woman With Her All Belonging Sitting Alone In War Ruined Cologne. 1945
A Triple Decker Bus. Germany, Berlin, 1926
US Veterans Of Four Different Wars, That Lived In The Same Town Of Geary, Oklahoma - 1940s
These days to be a veteran of 4 US wars, you only need to have 'served' 1 year...
Archaeologist And A Child From Pompeii
In 1895 In Paris, An Express Train Overruns A Buffer Stop, Crosses More Than 30 Meters Of Concourse Before Plummeting Through A Window At Gare Montparnasse
1920’s Hand Carved Hearse
“The Drunk Basket.” In The 1960s, Bars In Istanbul Would Hire Someone To Carry Drunk People Back To Their Homes
This Is Known As One Of Medicine’s Most Incredible Moments. In 1922, At The University Of Toronto, Scientists Went To A Hospital Ward With Children Who Were Comatose And Dying From Diabetic Keto-Acidosis
For clarification, this is the rest of the text : "Imagine a room full of parents sitting at the bedside waiting for the inevitable death of their child. The scientists went from bed to bed and injected the children with the new purified extract - insulin. As they began to inject the last comatose child, the first child injected began to awaken. One by one, all of the children awoke from their diabetic comas. A room of death and gloom, became a place of joy and hope. Thank You Dr. Banting and Dr. Best! "
American WWI Veterans At A Reunion, 1978
Remarkable 2000 Year Old Ladies Shoe Found In A Well Amongst The Ruins Of A Roman Fort Archaeological Dig In Germany...!!
Same Injured Whale Photographed After 35 Years Apart. Amazing. Whale Was Attacked By A Killer Shark
Please Also Follow The Most Awesome History Page @history_and_stories need Your Support. #historybuff #historical#usa #usarmy #warhistorians #historic #historylovers #historynerd #historybuff #history #vintagestyle #ptsd #vintagephotography. #warzone #warriors #battlefield #amazing #incredible #vintage #vintagephotography #historynerd
No, this it too sad, such beautiful words only for those drama not to come true
Actors-Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach And Lee Van Cliff During The Filming Of "The Good, The Bad And The Ugly"
Photograph Of The Oldest House In Hamburg,germany,taken In 1898.it Was Built In 1524 And Despite Protests From Locals,was Demolished On The 8 December 1910
'Girl Sitting On Windowsill'. Photo by William Gale Gedney 1964
1920's Diving Suit
A Cup Of Tea And A Bit Of Peace Back In The 1800s
A 19th Century Tornado Caught On Camera In Oklahoma,1898!
By The Time Robert Wadlow Turned 8 Years Old, He Was Already Taller Than His Father. Diagnosed With Hyperplasia Of The Pituitary Gland — A Condition That Causes Excessive Growth Due To A High Level Of Human Growth Hormones — Wadlow Stood About 6 Feet Tall As A Child
Princeton University Students Photographed After A Brutal Snowball Fight In 1890
Monte Cristallo, Refuge Of The Alpini
Austrian Felix Baumgartner Becomes The First Skydiver To Break The Speed Of Sound, Reaching A Maximum Velocity Of 833.9mph (1,342km/H). Year 2012
𝗔𝗶𝗿 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗩𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻 Born In Memphis, Tennessee In 1937, Morgan Freeman Was The Youngest Of Five Children. His Parents Had Left The South To Find Work In Chicago. Please Follow @5030remember , A Great History Page Showing World History On Day To Day Basis. Please Also Follow Very Informative Page @history_and_stories, Need Your Support Here. Until The Age Of Six, Freeman Lived With His Grandmother In Mississippi. After His Parents Separated, Freeman Moved To Greenwood, Mississippi, With His Mother. There Freeman Frequently Attended The Local Movie Theater And Became A Fan Of Actors
Frank Lentini, Owner Of 3 Legs, 4 Feet, 16 Toes, And 2 Functioning Sets Of Genitals. (1884-1966)
You know there’s only so many things you can put on display at the Circus.
On This Day 1950, Timothy Evans Was Executed By Hanging. He Was Later Granted A Posthumous Pardon. The Case Is Now Acknowledged As A Major Miscarriage Of Justice And Was Instrumental In The Abolition Of Capital Punishment In The United Kingdom In 1965. Timothy John Evans From Merthyr Was Tried And Convicted Of Murdering His Wife And Infant Daughter At Their Residence In Notting Hill, London And Sentenced To Death By Hanging. However, Three Years Later John Christie, A Downstairs Neighbour, Was Found To Be A Serial Killer Who Confessed To Murdering Mrs. Evans And Was Subsequently Found To Have Also Murdered Evans's Daughter
These Are Titanic Survivors Boarding The Carpathia In 1912....
A lot of people say "had Californian only gone to Titanic's aid so many more passengers would have been saved", but the difficulties Carpathia had retrieving the Titanic's survivors disproves this theory. It took the best part of the whole morning to get all the survivors out of the lifeboats. Lightoller was the last survivor to step onboard- at 11:30 in the morning- 12 hours after Titanic had struck the iceberg. Lifeboats were not designed to be used for passenger transfer, and ships like Carpathia and Californian were not equipped with any mechanism for lifting a whole (loaded) boat out of the water. Later ships were designed to be able to lift whole lifeboats both into and OUT of the water- another lesson learned from the Titanic tragedy.
Statue Of King Arthur Located In A Castle In Cornwall
Ww2 Relic Of An Unfortunate Soldier Found On Eastern Front
30 Million-Year-Old Praying Mantis Is Preserved In Pristine Piece Of Amber. Please Also Follow The Most Awesome History Page @history_and_stories Need Your Support. Embedded Within A Clear Piece Of Amber, A Small Praying Mantis Sits At Attention, Frozen Forever In Time. The Piece, Which Measures Just Slightly Over One Inch Tall, Was Sold Via Heritage Auctions For $6,000 In 2016
Coca Cola In 1906
This Is How The Head Of A Spear Went Through A Bone During The Roman Gaelic War And It Still Remains In The Bone After 2070 Years Later...
Outside Wrigley Field In 1932
In 1976, Shavarsh Karapetyan, An Armenian Olympic Swimmer, Had Just Completed A 12-Mile Run With His Brother When They Saw A Trolley Bus Crash Into A Dam Reservoir
They seemed to have cut off that he saved multiple lives that day: The trolleybus lay at the bottom of the reservoir some 25 metres (80 ft) offshore at a depth of 10 metres (33 ft).[4] Karapetyan swam to it and, despite conditions of almost zero visibility, due to the silt rising from the bottom, broke the back window with his legs. The trolleybus was crowded, it carried 92 passengers, Karapetyan started bringing people up from the bottom of the lake, to his waiting brother.[5] The combined effect of multiple lacerations from glass shards led to Karapetyan's hospitalization for 45 days,[4] as he developed pneumonia and sepsis. Subsequent lung complications prevented Karapetyan from continuing his sports career.[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shavarsh_Karapetyan
The Mystery Of The Paracas Elongated Skulls. During The 1920s, Peruvian Archaeologist Julio Tello Discovered A Series Of Tombs In Paracas, Peru
A Woman Poses To The Câmera , With Berlin In Ruins On The Back, 1945
Men Of The British Home Guard Stand Watch Over A Crashed Italian Fiat Falco Somewhere In Southern England During Battle Of Britain
It probably landed hard, but normally, and then hit a rock and tipped over.
At The Age Of 29, Adrian Brody Became The Youngest Oscar Winner For The Lead Male Role In The Pianist. To Prepare For The Role Of The Man Who Lost Everything, He Isolated Himself From Everyone, Left His Apartment And Car, Broke Up With His Girlfriend, Starved And Lost Whole 15 Kilograms. and He Learned To Play Chopin On The Piano. a#historybuff #historical#usa # #historic #historylovers #historynerd #historybuff #history #vintagestyle # #vintagephotography #amazing #incredible #vintage #piano #oscar #pianoplayer Ist #vintagephotographs #historynerd #mirror #amazingplaces #ww2
As Laurence Olivier said to Dustin Hoffman, "My dear boy, why don't you just try acting?"
Us Civil War. ( Antitam Then And Now)
Pretty sure I already saw this list. On this site. At least five time.
It's possible they get recycled but it's the comments that change and make it different... sometimes. Sometimes I've seen "new" ones with 3 yr old comments
Load More Replies...
A lot of these posts need fact checking. Someone needs to do that at Bored Panda, please
The mirror in the zoo, in Antwerp there was one too (in Dutch). Sometimes, I miss that mirror.
Why do they have some posts with and some without buttons to up / downvote?
Pretty sure I already saw this list. On this site. At least five time.
It's possible they get recycled but it's the comments that change and make it different... sometimes. Sometimes I've seen "new" ones with 3 yr old comments
Load More Replies... A lot of these posts need fact checking. Someone needs to do that at Bored Panda, please
The mirror in the zoo, in Antwerp there was one too (in Dutch). Sometimes, I miss that mirror.
Why do they have some posts with and some without buttons to up / downvote?
